This is what I've been doing for breakfast lately and the first part of it always seems to fit the bill. But the second part of breakfast feels good some days and other days not. It may be a good not feeling good though, but I also get the feeling I should try something different.

Typically I start off with a fried egg and some meat. Like a turkey slice or two. And then I have a nice juicy kind of fruit. Grapefruit, apple, pineapple, plum, whatever is good and juicy. Something to help keep me regular.

Well, I'm also targeting a certain calorie level, around 450 or so. Give or take. So usually I eat some nuts and some dried fruit after all of that. And some days I feel fine. Other days I feel kind of ramped up. It might be too much sugar. But it's weird because some days I'll eat these dried fruits and it doesn't ramp me up at all. Like I'll have two or three prunes with about a 1/4 cup of walnuts. Or, something like that. Dates and pecans. Etc. I suppose it could be the combo.

Thing is, I need something there. I'm usually still very hungry after the first part of breakfast. And I need the calories. I've been gaining weight a little bit at a time, which is good for me, but not too fast. In fact, I could go faster probably. My program says I've gained like .7 pounds a week. And I've sort of flatlined this week.

Anyways. I used to not feel good on grains in the morning, but I've been thinking about a little oatmeal. I guess I could try that. Or a rice cake. But they don't have a lot of calories. I guess I could put a nut butter on it. Or maybe I should try some soup. Maybe I need some kind of veggie. But I need calories. I suppose I could try a higher calorie veggie, like peas or squash or potatoes. I know in the past I've not felt good on potatoes in the morning, but I could try it again. I do eat potatoes and they are neutral on my swami, so I don't have a problem with them and I think they actually are good for me. At least at other meals. Maybe I should try some hashbrowns or something. Or hash browns from something else like rutubagas or something like that. Hmmmm...

I have yet to do yogurt. I haven't done dairy in a long time.

I'm open to suggestions though.

The poster formerly known as "ABNOWAY"

"Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." - Phillipians 4:8

Maybe alternate, having the dried fruits and nuts some days and something else on the alternate days?

I'd definitely sugest some sort of veggie. I'd lean towards a starchier, higher-calorie vegetable, and I'd suggest eating it cooked, as it's easier to eat more of them that way (and thus take in more calories than if you ate them raw.) You could have the veggies as a separate dish, or you could sautee up some veggies and then cook the eggs into the cooked veggies, for an omelette rather than "eggs and meat followed by veggies."

when I need a hot cereal (not the best for me...but on a cold day...) I use rice cereal, its rice grits that cook up in about 12 min. (I add a bit of amaranth grain and a few dried cranberries). I sweeten it with stevia and use ghee too. mmm.

when I need a hot cereal (not the best for me...but on a cold day...) I use rice cereal, its rice grits that cook up in about 12 min. (I add a bit of amaranth grain and a few dried cranberries). I sweeten it with stevia and use ghee too. mmm.

That sounds good. I bought some cream of rice cereal, thinking I might try it soon when I'm craving something like hot cereal. I like the idea of adding another grain and some dried fruit. Quinoa would probably work well, too.

JJR Have you tried switching the order of your foods? If you eat an acid fruit first it might raise your stomach acid levels to help you digest the meat so you won't feel like you need to eat more right away. Also, I read a long time ago that eating a few almonds first thing in the morning helps to set the acid tone of your body for the day. I don't know if that is true but if they are a good food for you it is something to try.

Karen, I need to eat more regardless. So, if I eat my acidic fruit first, then my meat and eggs, and I'm not hungry any longer, that's not good. I need more calories than just those couple things. On the other hand, I could try to start with the fruit, and then eat the meat and eggs and something else too. It is a thought to consider. Especially if changing that does help me digest my fats and proteins better. A thought on that though, a dietician lady told me to eat my meats first in the meal, as that's when your stomach acids are at it's highest. Although I think some foods like certain fruits and such will actually increase my stomach acids, like you mention. But I'm not sure if that order makes a whole heck of a lot of difference which one goes first in the case of my breakfast. Because they are eaten very close together, time wise.

O in Virginia, cheese has stopped me up in the past. I may try some yogurt soon. My doctor's assistant told me to try this brand called "Seven Stars". She said it's "biodoynamic" and something about A2 proteins or fats or something that seems to be more tolerated by people that have a problem with dairy. I used to not have a problem with dairy. And cheese tastes fine and doesn't give me an upset stomach. But it seems to slow down or shut down my movements. At least it has in the past. It may be I'm getting over that though.

Ruthie, it's weird, because some days figs will be fine and other days that I feel like it ramped me up it was with the figs. Same with dates. Same with raisins. Same with Prunes. Although I will say this, I think I might be noticing that I don't usually have a reaction on days that I've eaten prunes. I suspect the sugar in the other ones, but I'm not completely sure. It's not like prunes don't have a good amount of natural sugars either.

But I do feel like I need something more... substantial at times. As far as this rice cereal, what is it called? I've never seen that before. I used to love grits, before BTD. I like that consistency. And the flavor too. But I bet a rice cereal might hit the spot. I've wanted to try smoothies too. I need to start trying hemp milk. Maybe a little bit less dried fruit in a smoothie with some hemp milk might fill me up better, be good calorie wise. I could put nut or nut butters in it I suppose. I have so many foods that I want to try that I haven't yet, it gets kind of overwhelming. Because introducing them methodically is somewhat wise, IMHO. To see what the bodies reaction is.

The poster formerly known as "ABNOWAY"

"Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." - Phillipians 4:8

I'd be grinding for a half hour leanne. I just have a little one. Of course I might not need a LOT in the morning. At night I usually eat about 1/2 cup of rice (dried) or about 3/4 cup oatmeal (dried). I don't eat them dried of course, that's just about how much I eat.

Creamy rice by Bob's red mill, eh. Cool!

The poster formerly known as "ABNOWAY"

"Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." - Phillipians 4:8

Do you eat 1/4 cup of nuts everyday now? Maybe need to add another 1/4 a cup each day, I like you you eat oats at night (nuts added here maybe be helpful, or nut butter & ghee,

Breakfast to get more calories in: Drink nothing with ice in it,especially when your day is beginning (it increases metabolism to lose weight, I drink it) Lemon in Hot or cold water Increases Metabolism first thing in the morning, so knowing this I do this and I also will eat grapefruit(thinking the same thing will and feels like it does happen) I wait 30 minutes after fruit unless in grain, and have Meat/eggs/fish next with greens and allowed veggies that I run through a food processor, so I can eat most of my daily about for breakfast.

I exercise 2-3 hrs and then have fresh fruit and water to hydrate and relax before having next meal (you may want to eat that meal after 30 minutes, so your metabolism slows down a bit and stores a bit of that food.

Are you eating the correct or upped fat servings? the healthy ones for you.

I eat more nuts every day than my swami wants me to. And at this point I don't really care. It is probably skewing my omega 3 to omega 6 ratio, but it is also helping me with calories. I have no clue why I should skip breakfast sahara. I'm underweight and need to gain weight. And food is really helping me to feel better. So no, I don't think it's a perfect tweak for me.

The poster formerly known as "ABNOWAY"

"Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." - Phillipians 4:8

I'm still trying to figure this thing out. It seems like more times than not, I feel real good after my eggs and meat, and then I eat some kind of fresh fruit. All good. And then yesterday, it was like as clear as a bell, as soon as I ate 1/4 of peanuts and 3 prunes, I was all ramped up. Today I tried to be scientific about it. I had my (1) fried egg with a little bit of turkey meat (organic prairie turkey slices. Somedays I'll have their turkey bacon with my egg). And then I had a granny smith apple. Peeled. Yum. So far so good. Then I ate 1/4 of peanuts to keep it the same. And then I ate about 3/4 of a rice cake for a change up. Rice cakes are really easily digested by me and I thought it would be a safe starter to see if grains in the morning are OK.

So, I don't feel as "ramped up" as yesterday, but it sure seems like my body is calm after the eggs, meat and fresh fruit, and then after that it gets ramped up when I eat the next part. The thing is, I'm still WAY hungry after the first part. So..... And I need the calories. I like the idea of trying some veggies. But they need to be higher calorie, I think. The thought hit me today that some soup might be really good too. It's hydrating, and veggies. But I'd have no clue how to count calories on soup. But it does seem to me my mind is craving something more salty instead of sweet and something more veggie like. I'm not sure potatoes would be good, as they might be kind of starchy. But what else could work? Mabye some peas? I suppose maybe I could just eat some leftover veggies from dinner the night before. Which I almost always have something. Maybe a squash would be really good. Like some sautee'd zucchini and them maybe add some nuts, but maybe not as many.

Part of me thinks I just need another egg also with some veggies. But I don't know about eating 2 eggs every morning. I get 9 on my swami. But I think it might have something to do with an improper omega 3/omega 6 ratio. I can tell my swami wants me to have more omega 3's than 6's, but the nuts just seem to add a good amount of calories. I wonder the nuts just have too much hidden mold or something in them. Or, maybe I should always just eat walnuts in the morning. Because it seems like they don't usually do it to me and they have omega 3's. I think that might be part of the deal, because I do seem to not have the "ramped up" feeling when eating walnuts. Hmmmmmm.....

I'm not sure about the grains though. They're basically sugar. Although part of me is also craving a flax muffin or something like that. Hehehehe With heaps of butter on top!!! Oh I used to love a good muffin with tons of butter on top in the mid morning.

The poster formerly known as "ABNOWAY"

"Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." - Phillipians 4:8

I like to use hemp seed in my bowl of "stuff" in the morning along with chia seed, ground flax seed and berries. I have been getting some really delicious frozen raspberries lately. Ummmm! I prefer to have everything in their most natural, edible state, then I don't have to worry about what some manufacturer has done to it! Hemp seed are one of my favorite foods. I have Goji juice before everything else. I also like Goji berries. And very plain brown rice cereal goes in sometimes too! The only "bought" milks I use are Rice Dream Original and Soy Dream Classic, but I don't use very much of either one. When I get better organized with more time to do it, I plan to start making my milk again. Getting sorted out on SWAMI - which is the main reason I have spent so much time on this forum lately - has taken up a lot of time. But it has been worth every minute!!

"We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid." -- Benjamin Franklin

Yeah, rice dream seems to have the least amount of stuff in it. A lot of people do smoothies in the morning and it may be a good option for after my first part of the meal. I've yet to ever make rice milk. I have enough on my plate right now. But..... I'm not supposed to have the oils in rice dream. So, I haven't done it yet. I've had it from time to time in very small amounts. And those oils might be OK but if it was something I was going to do on a regular basis, making my own milk might be the better option. I bought some hemp milk, but it's true what they say, you can't find it without some kind of gum in it, and I don't know if I want to partake in it or not. But then again, like I've been hammering around here, I think Dr.D said it's more about eating the right things and not necessarily worrying horribly over small amounts of the wrong things. I don't know.

The poster formerly known as "ABNOWAY"

"Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." - Phillipians 4:8

One egg and some compliant meat would not be enough food for this girl! I typically eat two-three eggs at a time, though not every day. Two fried eggs or three eggs in an omelet with veggies and/or feta cheese.

I'm taking my power back by remembering that a belief is only a thought that I keep thinking,

The meat I eat is very little. It might be 1.5 ounces. So, it's just a taste. Now, if I had a whole 4 oz with an egg, well, you know that's not a bad idea. I should put out some turkey burgers in the refrigerator to thaw the night before and then I could have that an egg for breakfast. Then I probably wouldn't need the nuts.

I ate turkey bacon, an egg, an apple and then little less than 1/4 of walnuts and two small dried figs this morning. I'm trying to decide if it messed with me or not. It doesn't seem to be the case. I'm still thinking it might be a little bit too much sugar in the AM. But like I said, there are days where it doesn't seem to affect me. Plus, I think the walnuts might be a better idea. I've noticed on days I eat macadamia nuts I don't seem to have this probably either. Possibly.

It may be that I'm just overthinking all of this and it just is. But I don't want to ignore what my body is telling me either. Or, maybe I do. I do have a tenancy to be a little too zero'd in on it. But, I also want to do my body right. It's always this fine line of how far you take it. I know so many people that just eat whatever they want, and then have problems and don't draw parallels. My sister has terrible skin problems, and it really bothers her. But she drinks coffee and she'll put 6 packets of sugar in it. I kid you not. Not every day, but enough that I'm just like, Wow. But then there's me, every time I have an ailment, I've had the tenancy to blame the food. It my defense, that's how it all started was when I ate I would feel terrible. So, I'm trying to overcome my past.

The poster formerly known as "ABNOWAY"

"Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." - Phillipians 4:8